Posted in Age care, Ask Nicky, Community services, Volunteering

An open letter from Dr Nicky Howe, CEO Southcare

The challenges of the last fortnight have proven we are more than equipped to manage a local COVID-19 outbreak without compromising service.  As many of you would have seen, following news of the outbreak, we immediately deployed the next phase of our COVID-19 plan and continued essential services by:

  • Providing masks to all Southcarers
  • Providing additional Personal Protective Equipment to home care workers
  • Screening all customers before entering homes and only entering if customers were 100% well and had no contact with the potential risk sites (provided by Healthy WA) or anyone who displayed COVID-19 symptoms
  • Providing shop-by-list services and transport to customer via them sitting in the back seat of the car
  • Temporarily ceasing Home Care Coordinator visits
  • Temporarily closing our offices and encouraging office-based staff to work from home
  • Only accepting cash payments
  • Temporarily closing our Op Shop, cancelling all external events at Southcare buildings and conducting online appointments for Emergency Relief, Financial Counselling and Aboriginal Family Support
  • Regularly cleaning our office, practising physical distancing and personal hygiene

The State Government has now lifted transitional restrictions, and we’ve put in action our pre-lockdown COVID-19 plan. As we look to the future and re-open our office doors, we will continue to protect and connect by:

  • Screening all customers on arrival for a service by asking the questions to ensure health and no contact with those displaying COVID-19 symptoms
  • Practising safe physical distancing and appropriate personal hygiene
  • Using contact tracing at all Southcare premises including temperature checks
  • Delivering ongoing COVID-19 training as appropriate
  • Keeping our COVID-19 management plan in place

As always, I invite any questions from you regarding the way we do business and can be contacted on the details below. 

In the meantime, you can follow our COVID-19 update page, stay up-to-date on Facebook or get in touch. 

Dr Nicky Howe
Chief Executive Officer
6117 3050
enquiries@southcare.org.au 

 12 February 2021 

Posted in Age care, Ask Nicky, Community services, Volunteering